Two polar opposite basketball teams meet today at the Icardo Center in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Hawaii is 17-5 overall and tied for the first in the Big West at 9-3. Riding an eight-game losing streak, Cal State Bakersfield is in the Big West cellar at 8-17 and 2-11.

“We’re not worried about the rankings and all that,” said guard/wing Quandre “Dre” Bullock, whose Rainbow Warriors are 10th in College Insider’s Mid-Major top 25. “We feel comfortable where we are. We’ve still got games to win and to prove our No. 1 seed. We’re focusing on one game at a time.”

The ’Bows have managed without point guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, who will miss the rest of the season because of a “turf toe” on his left foot.

“Injuries suck, but they happen,” Bullock said. “We’ve always got our brothers’ back. We’re doing what we can, even guys who aren’t playing. We definitely need their energy, as well. We’re buying in and trying to do the best we can with what we’ve got.”

The ’Bows’ active roster is down to 10 players, with most of the minutes going to eight. Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson, captain Harry Rouhliadeff and reserves Gytis Nemeiksa and Yacine Toumi are sharing the reps at the two post positions. Hunter Erickson, Bullock and Isaiah Kerr are rotating in the backcourt. Since moving into the starting lineup, wing Isaac Finlinson is averaging 12.0 points while hitting 50% of his 3s in the past five games.

Don’t miss out on what’s happening!

“It helps guys to play more,” Johnson said. “You can see everybody’s flow. Hopefully, we can keep our bodies fresh and be smart with what we’re doing individually on and off the court, and be ready to go.”

Of the tight rotation, Erickson said, “Everyone knows they’re going to be playing and playing a lot of minutes. That can be an advantage, giving guys confidence knowing what’s going to happen with the rotation. There are more opportunities to get warm and be ready in the game. You know you don’t have to worry about, ‘oh, am I going to go in?’”

It has been a season on the blink for the Roadrunners. Last September, it was revealed Kyle Conder was no longer CSUB’s athletic director. Assistant coach Kevin Nays was arrested and charged with several felonies. And Rod Barnes resigned after 14 years as CSUB’s head coach.

Acting head coach Mike Scott has tapped the brakes on the Roadrunners’ fast-tempo offense.

“We’re trying to re-brand the way we play a little bit so we can fit the guys we have right now,” Scott said. “We’ve been playing together. We have to put it together for 40 minutes.”

But that also means being healthy. Guard CJ Hardy suffered a broken foot and is still mending. Wing Jaden Alexander and forward Caleb McCarty also are injured.

“Three guys we expected to depend on this year are out,” Scott said.

The Roadrunners have received a boost from point guard Dailin Smith, who averages a team-high 15.8 points, and reserve guard Kadar Waller. Ronald Jessamy, who averages 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, Pierre Geneste and Tom Mark are the focus of the inside-out offense.

In an impassioned speech to the players, Scott said: “Now it’s time to show who we are. Now it’s time to step up to the plate. We’ve got to go out and battle and fight. We have to give ourselves an opportunity late in the game and go win it.”

BIG WEST MEN’S STANDINGS

TEAM
CONF W
CONF L
PCT
GB
ALL W
ALL L

Hawaii
9
3
.750
—
17
5

UC Irvine
9
3
.750
—
16
8

UCSB
9
4
.692
1/2
16
8

UC Davis
8
5
.615
1 1/2
15
9

CS Northridge
8
5
.615
1 1/2
15
10

CS Fullerton
7
6
.538
2 1/2
12
13

UC San Diego
6
7
.462
3 1/2
16
9

Cal Poly
5
8
.385
4 1/2
9
16

LBSU
4
8
.333
5
8
16

UC Riverside
3
10
.231
6 1/2
8
17

CSU Bakersfield
2
11
.154
7 1/2
8
17

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

DATE
MATCHUPS

Thursday

Hawaii at Cal State Bakersfield, 4:30 p.m.
UC Davis at UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara at UC Riverside
Cal State Fullerton at Long Beach State
UC Irvine at Cal Poly

Saturday

Hawaii at Cal State Northridge, 3 p.m.
Long Beach State at UC Davis
UC Santa Barbara at Cal Poly
Cal State Fullerton at UC Irvine
UC Riverside at UC San Diego

Thursday, Feb. 19

Cal Poly at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
CS Northridge at UC Santa Barbara
Cal State Bakersfield at UC Riverside
UC Davis at Cal State Fullerton
UC Irvine at Long Beach State

Saturday, Feb. 21

UC Santa Barbara at Hawaii, 5 p.m.
UC Davis at UC Riverside
CS Northridge at Long Beach State
Cal State Fullerton at Cal State Bakersfield
UC San Diego at UC Irvine

Rainbow Warriors Basketball

At Icardo Center, Bakersfield, Calif.

HAWAII (17-5, 9-3 BIG WEST) AT CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD (8-17, 2-11 BIG WEST)

>> When: Today at 4:30 p.m.

>> TV: None

>> Radio: 1420-AM / 92.7-FM

>> Streaming: ESPN+